BERLIN, March 3 (Reuters) – German football was thrown into turmoil after a doping commission said the use of banned substances in the sport as well as in cycling in the 1970s and 1980s was more than just individual athletes stepping over the line.

For decades the country sought to investigate East Germany’s systematic doping before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but there were indications doping was also present in West German sports.

Those suggestions have now, in part, been substantiated, said the evaluation commission on Freiburg University’s doping past with evidence pointing to cycling and football.

The 60-page report itself has not been published yet but Monday’s two-page statement released by one of the commission members, and confirmed by the commission, was enough to cause a furore.

Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, who won the league in 1984, and Freiburg, in the second division at the time of the claims, said they had yet to see the report which goes back decades, making cross-referencing information difficult.

Germany’s cycling federation (BDR) was reserved in its reaction on Tuesday.

“For the last 10 years, the German cycling federation has positioned itself clearly in the fight against doping and through prevention and information contribute to a new generation that sees manipulation for what it is. Cheating,” BDR general secretary Martin Wolf said.

Germany’s sacred cow — the Bundesliga football league — has never seen such allegations with only a handful of positive doping tests in the past several decades.

All of these were quickly dismissed as the fault of individuals rather than a network of organised doping, keeping the league’s drugs-free image intact.

But it must now face the most serious allegations yet with Stuttgart and Freiburg players having allegedly used banned substances.

The German Football Association (DFB) said that although it had not been informed of the case, it wanted full transparency.

“There are grave allegations here that of course need to be completely and fully cleared up,” DFB Vice President Rainer Koch said on the DFB website.

“One has to admit that the anti-doping fight in those years was not being conducted seriously and at the DFB it was not dealt with as meticulously as one would have wished.

“Today German football is very consistent and strict in its fight against doping. Especially in the last 20 years a lot has changed and a lot has been done,” he said.

The Football League (DFL), contacted by Reuters, did not want to comment on the findings at this time.

At the heart of the issue is former Freiburg University’s sports trauma unit chief Armin Kluemper, who allegedly provided athletes with anabolic steroids.

Evaluation commission member Fritz Soergel said, especially for football, it was time to confront these allegations.

“The DFB has been confronted with this since yesterday,” Soergel told German ZDF television. “After these revelations… and because football is the people’s sport, the most popular sport, no stone should be left unturned.” (Editing by Ed Osmond)

BERLIN (Reuters) – German football was thrown into turmoil after a doping commission said the use of banned substances in the sport as well as in cycling in the 1970s and 80s was more than just individual athletes stepping over the line.

For decades the country sought to investigate East Germany’s systematic doping before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but there were indications doping was also present in West German sports.

Those indications are now in part substantiated, says the evaluation commission on Freiburg University’s doping past with evidence pointing to cycling and football.

The 60-page report itself has not been published yet but Monday’s two-page statement released by one of the commission members and confirmed by the commission, was enough to cause a furore.

Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, who won the league in 1984, and Freiburg, in the second division at the time of the claims, said they had yet to see the report which goes back decades, making cross-referencing information difficult.

Some former players, including Germany international Karl-Heinz Foerster, who played for Stuttgart, were quick to reject them.

Germany’s cycling federation (BDR) was reserved in its reaction on Tuesday.

“For the last 10 years, the German cycling federation has positioned itself clearly in the fight against doping and through prevention and information contribute to a new generation that sees manipulation for what it is. Cheating,” said BDR General Secretary Martin Wolf on Tuesday.

Germany’s sacred cow — the Bundesliga football league — has never seen such allegations with only a handful of positive doping tests in the past several decades.

All of these were quickly dismissed as the fault of individuals rather than a network of organised doping, keeping its drugs-free image intact.

But it must now face the most serious allegations yet, with the commission saying Stuttgart and Freiburg players used banned substances in the 1970s and 80s. German cycling also saw widespread doping between 1975-80.

The German Football Association (DFB) and the Football League (DFL), contacted by Reuters, did not comment on the findings.

At the heart of the issue is former Freiburg University’s sports trauma unit chief Armin Kluemper, who allegedly provided athletes with anabolic steroids.

Evaluation commission member Fritz Soergel said, especially for football, it was time to confront these allegations.

“The DFB has been confronted with this since yesterday,” Soergel told German ZDF television. “After these revelations… and because football is the people’s sport, the most popular sport, no stone should be left unturned.”

He did, however, say current anti-doping tests in football made drawing parallels with the 1970s irrelevant.

“The past is a completely different chapter than now. Footballers experimented with that, taking stimulants and even combining them with alcohol,” Soergel said.

BERLIN, March 3 (Reuters) – German football was thrown into turmoil after a doping commission said the use of banned substances in the sport as well as in cycling in the 1970s and 80s was more than just individual athletes stepping over the line.

For decades the country sought to investigate East Germany’s systematic doping before the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 but there were indications doping was also present in West German sports.

Those indications are now in part substantiated, says the evaluation commission on Freiburg University’s doping past with evidence pointing to cycling and football.

The 60-page report itself has not been published yet but Monday’s two-page statement released by one of the commission members and confirmed by the commission, was enough to cause a furore.

Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart, who won the league in 1984, and Freiburg, in the second division at the time of the claims, said they had yet to see the report which goes back decades, making cross-referencing information difficult.

Some former players, including Germany international Karl-Heinz Foerster, who played for Stuttgart, were quick to reject them.

Germany’s cycling federation (BDR) was reserved in its reaction on Tuesday.

“For the last 10 years, the German cycling federation has positioned itself clearly in the fight against doping and through prevention and information contribute to a new generation that sees manipulation for what it is. Cheating,” said BDR General Secretary Martin Wolf on Tuesday.

Germany’s sacred cow — the Bundesliga football league — has never seen such allegations with only a handful of positive doping tests in the past several decades.

All of these were quickly dismissed as the fault of individuals rather than a network of organised doping, keeping its drugs-free image intact.

But it must now face the most serious allegations yet, with the commission saying Stuttgart and Freiburg players used banned substances in the 1970s and 80s. German cycling also saw widespread doping between 1975-80.

The German Football Association (DFB) and the Football League (DFL), contacted by Reuters, did not comment on the findings.

At the heart of the issue is former Freiburg University’s sports trauma unit chief Armin Kluemper, who allegedly provided athletes with anabolic steroids.

Evaluation commission member Fritz Soergel said, especially for football, it was time to confront these allegations.

“The DFB has been confronted with this since yesterday,” Soergel told German ZDF television. “After these revelations… and because football is the people’s sport, the most popular sport, no stone should be left unturned.”

He did, however, say current anti-doping tests in football made drawing parallels with the 1970s irrelevant.

“The past is a completely different chapter than now. Footballers experimented with that, taking stimulants and even combining them with alcohol,” Soergel said. (Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)

BERLIN (Reuters) – VfL Wolfsburg dazzled their way past hosts Werder Bremen 5-3 on Sunday, fighting back from a goal down three times and scoring three goals in five minutes to cut the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to eight points.

In a hugely entertaining game, Dutchman Bas Dost and Daniel Caligiuri scored two apiece as the Wolves maintained their sparkling form with a sixth win in seven games, keeping them in second place on 50 points, a club record after 23 matches.

Wolfsburg also equalled a club best 11 successive games without defeat and Dost equalled a Bundesliga record after netting eight times in three games.

“There some exceptional games that we have been delivering lately,” Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking, who had the luxury of leaving World Cup winner Andre Schuerrle on the bench at the start, told reporters.

“This one was a wild game at times. In the second half we did it well with our passing and combinations,” he said.

Bayern are on 58 points after crushing Cologne 4-1 on Friday.

For Werder, who were in equally fine form going into the game, it was their first defeat since mid-December and they dropped to ninth on 30.

In a furious start both teams had scored twice by the 18th minute with Werder twice taking the lead and Wolfsburg responding on both occasions.

Teenager Levin Oztunali, a nephew of former Germany great Uwe Seeler, delivered two superb assists for Zlatko Junuzovic and Franco Di Santo but Wolfsburg’s Caligiuri and Maximilian Arnold hit back for the visitors.

Felix Kroos’s shot was deflected in by Vieirinha at the post for a renewed Bremen lead but that would be their last noteworthy attack.

Wolfsburg roared back in the second half with Dost, who took his season tally to 13 goals, scoring in the 48th and 51st minute to put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Caligiuri drilled in their fifth goal two minutes later as they delivered the killer punch and Werder failed to threaten in the entire second half.

Borussia Moenchengladbach are 10 points behind Wolfsburg in third place after beating promoted Paderborn 2-0 thanks to two deflected goals to maintain their Champions League hopes for next season.

United States international Fabian Johnson struck in the 18th minute and substitute Patrick Herrmann added another nine minutes from time as Paderborn went forward for the equaliser, the ball again bouncing off a defender’s legs to surprise keeper Lukas Kruse.

BERLIN, March 1 (Reuters) – VfL Wolfsburg dazzled their way past hosts Werder Bremen 5-3 on Sunday, fighting back from a goal down three times and scoring three goals in five minutes to cut the gap on Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich to eight points.

In a hugely entertaining game, Dutchman Bas Dost and Daniel Caligiuri scored two apiece as the Wolves maintained their sparkling form with a sixth win in seven games, keeping them in second place on 50 points, a club record after 23 matches.

Wolfsburg also equalled a club best 11 successive games without defeat and Dost equalled a Bundesliga record after netting eight times in three games.

“There some exceptional games that we have been delivering lately,” Wolfsburg coach Dieter Hecking, who had the luxury of leaving World Cup winner Andre Schuerrle on the bench at the start, told reporters.

“This one was a wild game at times. In the second half we did it well with our passing and combinations,” he said.

Bayern are on 58 points after crushing Cologne 4-1 on Friday.

For Werder, who were in equally fine form going into the game, it was their first defeat since mid-December and they dropped to ninth on 30.

In a furious start both teams had scored twice by the 18th minute with Werder twice taking the lead and Wolfsburg responding on both occasions.

Teenager Levin Oztunali, a nephew of former Germany great Uwe Seeler, delivered two superb assists for Zlatko Junuzovic and Franco Di Santo but Wolfsburg’s Caligiuri and Maximilian Arnold hit back for the visitors.

Felix Kroos’s shot was deflected in by Vieirinha at the post for a renewed Bremen lead but that would be their last noteworthy attack.

Wolfsburg roared back in the second half with Dost, who took his season tally to 13 goals, scoring in the 48th and 51st minute to put the visitors ahead for the first time.

Caligiuri drilled in their fifth goal two minutes later as they delivered the killer punch and Werder failed to threaten in the entire second half.

Borussia Moenchengladbach are 10 points behind Wolfsburg in third place after beating promoted Paderborn 2-0 thanks to two deflected goals to maintain their Champions League hopes for next season.

United States international Fabian Johnson struck in the 18th minute and substitute Patrick Herrmann added another nine minutes from time as Paderborn went forward for the equaliser, the ball again bouncing off a defender’s legs to surprise keeper Lukas Kruse.

Gladbach are four points clear of fourth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. (Editing by Ed Osmond)

BERLIN (Reuters) – Borussia Dortmund needed ‘superhero’ help from Marco Reus and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to score three times in eight minutes late on for a 3-0 home win over Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke 04 on Saturday and claim a fourth straight Bundesliga win.

Aubameyang put them ahead in the 78th minute, after last season’s runners-up squandered a dozen chances, and the Gabon international celebrated by donning a Batman mask with Marco Reus donning another mask of the superhero’s sidekick Robin.

Germany international Reus got on the scoresheet himself in the 86th after Henrikh Mkhitaryan tapped in from close range for Dortmund’s second a minute after they took the lead.

“I think Aubameyang has now run out of superhero masks,” a beaming Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters after his side reignited their hopes of European football next season.

“This is what I wished for this morning when I woke up. It was important we did not get nervous.” he said. “We have to keep up this good run because we are still only five points away from the bottom spots.”

Aubameyang also sported a Spiderman mask at the 2014 Super Cup final.

Dortmund, who produced some sloppy finishing earlier in the game and came up against superb goalkeeping from Schalke teenager Timon Wellenreuther, are up to tenth with 28 points.

The 19-year-old stopper, promoted to first choice recently because of injuries, kept his cool when Aubameyang charged forward and managed to block his effort in the fourth minute.

Wellenreuther also pulled off a string of excellent saves especially from Reus and Aubameyang.

IMPATIENT CROWD

Dortmund kept pushing and hit the woodwork through a deflected Reus effort as the 80,000-crowd grew impatient.

But Aubameyang finally broke the deadlock when he picked the ball up on the edge of the box and slotted in his 10th league goal of the season.

Armenian Mkhitaryan added another, as the Schalke defence buckled under pressure, before Reus finished them off.

Fifth-placed Schalke (35 points), without a shot on goal despite having striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar back from suspension, have now won one of their last five league games.

Fellow Champions League combatants Bayer Leverkusen, buoyed by a 1-0 win over Atletico Madrid in midweek, grabbed their first victory in four league games, beating Freiburg 1-0 to climb to fourth, a point ahead of Schalke.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s Alex Meier scored twice, including a penalty, and also missed a stoppage-time spot kick as they beat Hamburg SV 2-1, with their opponents playing much of the second half with 10 men after Matthias Ostrzolek was sent off.

Leaders Bayern Munich are 11 points clear at the top after crushing Cologne 4-1 on Friday. Second-placed VfL Wolfsburg (47) travel to Werder Bremen on Sunday.

BERLIN (Reuters) – Fast-improving Borussia Dortmund notched their fourth straight Bundesliga win after scoring three times in eight minutes late on to earn a 3-0 home victory over Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke 04 on Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them ahead in the 78th minute, after last season’s runners-up had squandered a dozen scoring chances, and the Gabon international celebrated by donning a Batman mask.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan tapped in from close range a minute later before Marco Reus made it 3-0 in the 86th.

“This was a big afternoon,” beaming Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters after his side reignited their hopes of European football next season. “This is what I wished for this morning when I woke up.”

Dortmund, who produced some sloppy finishing earlier in the game and also came up against superb goalkeeping from Schalke teenager Timon Wellenreuther, are up to ninth with 28 points.

The 19-year-old, promoted to first choice recently because of injuries, kept his cool when Aubameyang charged forward and managed to block his effort in the fourth minute.

Wellenreuther was lucky when Shinji Kagawa’s lob sailed just wide but he pulled off a string of excellent stops especially from Reus and Aubameyang.

IMPATIENT CROWD

Dortmund kept pushing and hit the woodwork through a deflected Reus effort as the 80,000-crowd grew impatient.

Reus wasted several more good chances before Gabon international Aubameyang picked the ball up on the edge of the box and slotted in his 10th league goal of the season.

Armenian Mkhitaryan added another, as the Schalke defence buckled under pressure, before Reus finished them off four minutes from time.

Fifth-placed Schalke (35 points), who were toothless and did not produce a single shot on goal despite having striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar back from suspension, have now won only one of their last five league games.

Fellow Champions League combatants Bayer Leverkusen, buoyed by a 1-0 midweek win over Atletico Madrid, grabbed their first win in four league games as they beat Freiburg 1-0 to climb to fourth, a point ahead of Schalke.

Hertha Berlin needed an 88th-minute goal from Salomon Kalou to defeat in-form Augsburg 1-0, the win lifting them to 14th in the table.

BERLIN, Feb 28 (Reuters) – Fast-improving Borussia Dortmund notched their fourth straight Bundesliga win after scoring three times in eight minutes late on to earn a 3-0 home victory over Ruhr Valley rivals Schalke 04 on Saturday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put them ahead in the 78th minute, after last season’s runners-up had squandered a dozen scoring chances, and the Gabon international celebrated by donning a Batman mask.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan tapped in from close range a minute later before Marco Reus made it 3-0 in the 86th.

“This was a big afternoon,” beaming Dortmund coach Juergen Klopp told reporters after his side reignited their hopes of European football next season. “This is what I wished for this morning when I woke up.”

Dortmund, who produced some sloppy finishing earlier in the game and also came up against superb goalkeeping from Schalke teenager Timon Wellenreuther, are up to ninth with 28 points.

The 19-year-old, promoted to first choice recently because of injuries, kept his cool when Aubameyang charged forward and managed to block his effort in the fourth minute.

Wellenreuther was lucky when Shinji Kagawa’s lob sailed just wide but he pulled off a string of excellent stops especially from Reus and Aubameyang.

IMPATIENT CROWD

Dortmund kept pushing and hit the woodwork through a deflected Reus effort as the 80,000-crowd grew impatient.

Reus wasted several more good chances before Gabon international Aubameyang picked the ball up on the edge of the box and slotted in his 10th league goal of the season.

Armenian Mkhitaryan added another, as the Schalke defence buckled under pressure, before Reus finished them off four minutes from time.

Fifth-placed Schalke (35 points), who were toothless and did not produce a single shot on goal despite having striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar back from suspension, have now won only one of their last five league games.

Fellow Champions League combatants Bayer Leverkusen, buoyed by a 1-0 midweek win over Atletico Madrid, grabbed their first win in four league games as they beat Freiburg 1-0 to climb to fourth, a point ahead of Schalke.

Hertha Berlin needed an 88th-minute goal from Salomon Kalou to defeat in-form Augsburg 1-0, the win lifting them to 14th in the table.

(Reuters) – All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) vice presidents are calling for world soccer’s governing body to launch a fully- fledged probe into their own president Ganesh Thapa before his self-imposed four-month suspension runs out next week.

FIFA said on Nov. 4 that Thapa had willingly stepped down from all his positions for 120 days after the sport’s ruling body said it would look into allegations of misconduct.

FIFA has not released any findings ahead of the 120-day period which ends next week.

In a letter to FIFA seen by Reuters, ANFA vice presidents said the ruling body now needed to launch a full investigation and not a mere review of claims, listing a number of issues that require closer scrutiny.

“We would kindly request a full investigation of Mr Thapa and his leadership of the ANFA by the FIFA Ethics Committee Investigatory Chamber ahead of his return in the upcoming weeks,” ANFA Vice Presidents Karma Tsering Sherpa and Bijay Narayan Manandhar wrote in a letter dated Feb. 20.

“The chaos in the administration of ANFA that has persisted for years under the leadership of Mr Thapa must be brought to an end. We urgently request your kind assistance,” they added.

The letter was addressed to Robert Torres, a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee’s investigatory chamber, who was in charge of looking into the claims back in November.

The letter was also sent to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and the Asian Football Confederation, at which Thapa was a Vice President until November.

Nepal’s parliamentary public account committee (PAC) had also ordered an investigation of Thapa last year over what it said was alleged embezzlement of funds. It said this month it was waiting for the report.

FIFA had said in October the Nepalese FA had been the subject of an “unsatisfactory” external audit in 2012, when “unappropriated cash movements” were identified.

Thapa, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, did not want to comment when contacted by Reuters on Friday.

“Right now I don’t want to talk about the issue,” Thapa said before refusing to say whether he would return to ANFA.

FIFA, when contacted by Reuters, refused to comment on the letter, the state of its claims review or even if the review led by Torres was completed, instead referring to their four-month old press release.

“More information will follow in due course,” a FIFA official told Reuters. The official also refused to say whether Thapa was eligible to return to office or not.

It was not immediately clear if Thapa would also resume his AFC role or would attempt to get re-elected during AFC elections later this year.

This episode marks the second incident involving an Asian FA in recent months, after Mongolian football chief Ganbold Buyannemekh was banned by FIFA in October for “soliciting and accepting” bribes from ex-FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam.

Feb 27 (Reuters) – All Nepal Football Association (ANFA) vice presidents are calling for world soccer’s governing body to launch a fully- fledged probe into their own president Ganesh Thapa before his self-imposed four-month suspension runs out next week.

FIFA said on Nov. 4 that Thapa had willingly stepped down from all his positions for 120 days after the sport’s ruling body said it would look into allegations of misconduct.

FIFA has not released any findings ahead of the 120-day period which ends next week.

In a letter to FIFA seen by Reuters, ANFA vice presidents said the ruling body now needed to launch a full investigation and not a mere review of claims, listing a number of issues that require closer scrutiny.

“We would kindly request a full investigation of Mr Thapa and his leadership of the ANFA by the FIFA Ethics Committee Investigatory Chamber ahead of his return in the upcoming weeks,” ANFA Vice Presidents Karma Tsering Sherpa and Bijay Narayan Manandhar wrote in a letter dated Feb. 20.

“The chaos in the administration of ANFA that has persisted for years under the leadership of Mr Thapa must be brought to an end. We urgently request your kind assistance,” they added.

The letter was addressed to Robert Torres, a member of the FIFA Ethics Committee’s investigatory chamber, who was in charge of looking into the claims back in November.

The letter was also sent to FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke and the Asian Football Confederation, at which Thapa was a Vice President until November.

Nepal’s parliamentary public account committee (PAC) had also ordered an investigation of Thapa last year over what it said was alleged embezzlement of funds. It said this month it was waiting for the report.

FIFA had said in October the Nepalese FA had been the subject of an “unsatisfactory” external audit in 2012, when “unappropriated cash movements” were identified.

Thapa, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, did not want to comment when contacted by Reuters on Friday.

“Right now I don’t want to talk about the issue,” Thapa said before refusing to say whether he would return to ANFA.

FIFA, when contacted by Reuters, refused to comment on the letter, the state of its claims review or even if the review led by Torres was completed, instead referring to their four-month old press release.

“More information will follow in due course,” a FIFA official told Reuters. The official also refused to say whether Thapa was eligible to return to office or not.

It was not immediately clear if Thapa would also resume his AFC role or would attempt to get re-elected during AFC elections later this year.

This episode marks the second incident involving an Asian FA in recent months, after Mongolian football chief Ganbold Buyannemekh was banned by FIFA in October for “soliciting and accepting” bribes from ex-FIFA executive Mohamed Bin Hammam. (Additional reporting by Amlan Chakraborty in New Delhi, editing by Ed Osmond)